Sale and purchase agreements for all types of building units in the first half of 2006 fell 4% on the second half of 2005, the Land Registry says, to 47,914. They were down 35.1% on the first half of 2005.

The total amount of consideration involved was $162.52 billion, up 0.3% on the second half of 2005 and down 30.4% on the first.

About 61,800 assignments for building units were lodged for registration, down 12.1% on the second half of 2005 and 28.1% on the first.

The total consideration amounted to $160.29 billion, down 6.9% on the second half of 2005 and 28.8% on the first.